„Prongs… "

Not a soul did stir, not a cricket did fidget.

„Prongs… "

Not a sound could be heard bellow James Potter's pillow.

„Prongs?"

Perhaps he wasn't even breathing.

„Prongs!"

Perhaps Evans finally had destroyed his will to live.

„PRONGS! "

„What, Sirius?!", the sixteen year old belted out, rolling to his side, a mess of tossed hair, rumpled clothes and pale flesh.

„Ouch. "

„That's what you were calling me for? To say 'ouch'? "

„You just called me by my first name. ", he retorted, appearing every bit the wounded puppy. „Some would call that cause for alarm. Padfoot would. "

„Sorry Pads, I just…"

„Want me to leave you alone so you can sulk? "

„Yeah, I do. "

„Cut it, no deal. "

„Padfoot! ", James squealed in desperation, too irritated for any other sort of reply, too battered by recent events to even truly care.

„Now that's music for my ears. Evans does have a way of bringing out the castrate in you. "

„Padfoot! "

„Did you know muggles used to do that? Way to prove it's useful to know a simple voice altering-"

„Padfoot! "

„I didn't buy it either at first, but then Moony showed me this picture-"

„PADFOOT! "

„What? "

„Is there a reason you dragged me away from-"

„Plotting your own demise? I am offended you would even inquire. ", Sirius retorted, the playful smirk on his lips revealing that, indeed, he did find this situation as amusing as it looked. Also, that he found himself to be quite a bit brilliant just about now, and wasn't going to explain why without the most proper of introductions.

If James Potter had inside himself even the tiniest desire to breathe, he probably would have found it all a good laugh. Unfortunately, he had sunk low enough for talking at all to have become an effort. Exhaustedly, he muttered:

„And your tactic is telling me muggles are stupid? "

„No, though it does make a guy wonder. My tactic, my chief argument, insert here, if you will, my dear elated friend, merely the most elegant of drum rolls", he mimicked the sound to James' obvious displeasure, "My tactic is this- you, my weepy Prongsie, are not."

„Not what? "

„Stupid, you imbecile! "

„Ah. "

„Aha. "

„Aah. "

„Yes. "

„That's it? "

„Almost. "

„Excuse me while I cry to death. "

„Oh, that's rich, you godforsaken drama queen, no one still buys that 'If Wiwwy refuses me one more time, I'll croak' routine, coz' counting-"

„Padfoot, I told her that if she said no again, I'd jump off the Astronomy tower, all right!? "

„And if you meant it, you'd be dead! "

„Exactly. "

„---"

„---"

„At least you're alive. "

„Merely preparing not to be. "

„Prongsie! "

„What?!? It's just like you said, she doesn't like me, and I'm beginning to think… She never will. "

„I'm a moron sometimes, that's not true. "

„She still said no…"

„She didn't think you'd do it. "

„I thought I would. "

„Yeah, I know. But, as they say, it ain't over 'till James Potter jumps. And you, incidentally James Potter, shall not jump. "

„Why not? "

„I've been waiting for you to ask me that! Yours truly, stop groaning, shall save your ass, Jimmy, that's why. "

„I've threatened suicide, what could possibly make her care less? "

„See, that's where you're wrong, I'm not saying she cares at all. "

„Brilliant. "

„But I'm saying she might. And how, you ask, or would, were you not tongue-tied at my obvious genius? "

Sirius dodged the pillow by an inch.

„Ye of little faith! What lacks odor, taste and is transparent? "

„I'd say Snivellus if you'd omitted the smell part. "

„Veritaserum. "

„What? "

„Merlin, Prongs, truth potion. "

„I know what it is, I just…"

„What? "

„It's illegal. "

„Mordred, she has got your balls. When has that stopped us? "

„It's…it takes months to brew. "

„So, you've waited six years, what's a month? "

„It…"

„What, James? "

„What if she still hates me? "

„Then we'll work from there. "

„I don't know…"

„That's just it; then, you will. Finally. C'mon, Prongs…say it. "

„---"

„Where's your Gryffindor guts? "

„I…"

„You? "

„Solemnly swear I am up to no good. "

„Wicked! You'll be glad to know Snivelly just brewed us some. "

„What? Snape brewed us a potion? "

„You really are whipped. He brewed some for Lucy, but sir Goldilocks will be real disappointed when he finds out its gone. "

„---"

„Finally, a smile."

„Sirius? "

„Again with the first name. What? "

„I, um… Thanks. A lot. "

„Yeah, yeah, just be sure to name the kids after me. "

„You have no middle name. "

„Seriously? "

„Shut up. You know, I think I decided on a name. "

„Torture Moony with these things, or Pete, not-"

„Snitch. "

„Who? "

„My son, Snitch Potter. "

„Prongs…"

„Yeah? "

„Rethink the tower. "

This time, the pillow did not miss.